Casing for graphophones.



Patented luune I2, |900.

{Application filed Mar. 22, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet4 l.

[No Model.)

y Morges/SF 1 asses NiTED STATES y PATEN l 1r-rien. l

CASING Fou GRAPHOPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,515, dated .T une 12, 1900. Application filed March 22, 1900. Serial No. 9,769. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM T. SHIELDS, a citizen of thel United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Casing for Graphophones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to graphophones in general, and more particularly to the reproducing portions thereof; and it has for its object to provide a protecting-casng for the record and reproducer which will entirely exclude exterior noises and will thus prevent air vibrations d ue to exterior causes from acting against the diaphragm of the reproducer, and thus modifying the sounds which emanate from the reproducer. It has been found that the squeaking and whistling noises that are given forth by the reproducer arerdue to eX- terior causes, such as the vibrations set up bythe feeding mechanism and other parts of the phonograph or graphophone, and Vthat these vibrations ycan be overcome by incasing the record and reproducer.

-In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view show ing the casing and the slide therein, which is employed where the records are weak. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through a graphophone equipped with a casing of the present invention and showing the relative positions of the record and reproducer, the casing, and the operating mechanism, represented by the feed-screw. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the casing in its open position and ready for application to the graphophone.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 represents the base-board of a common form of graphophone, upon which is mounted the usual graphophone mechanism, which includes a record-receiving core 6, with which is engaged a record 7, the core 6 being rotated in the usual manner, the rotating mechanism being not shown.

The feed mechanism for the reproducer comprises a feed-screw 9, which is journaled in standards, of which one is shown at 10, this feed-screw being positioned adjacent the rec- 0rd and separated therefrom by a slight in- The sound-excluding casing consists of a base portion 15, from one side edge of which there extends upwardly a Wall 16, the lower portion of which is bent outwardly into are vshape to conform tothe curvature of the record7 when the casing is in place and the "upper portion of which wall is Hat, as shown at 17. Longitudinally of the portion 17 of the wall there is formed a slot 18, and at the upper andlower edges of the slot .there are formed grooved beads 19 and 20, each of which in the present instance consists of a strip of metal bent into U shape, the slots of the beads being disposed toward each other to receive a strip 2l of mica, which is slidably'engagcd with the beads and lis movable loosely therein. An opening 23 is formed in the mica midway of its ends, this strip and hole'being for a purpose whichwill be presently explained.

The back 25 and sides of the casing are formed in one piece, as shown, the sides being indicated at 26 and 27, and the lower edge of the back is hinged to the rear edge of the base 15, so that the back and sides of the casing and the top, which is carried thereby, may be moved readily into or outof coperative relation to the front and base.

A frame 28 is secured to the upper edges of the back and sides, which frame has its inner edge grooved, as shown in Fig. 2, and in this groove is engaged a sheet of mica 30, which acts to complete the inclosure of the casing and at the same time to permit inspection of the inclosure of the 'casing without removing the casing. This frame 28 has a downwardly-extending linger 31 at its front edge, and in the rear thereof and parallel therewith is a second finger 32, which is carried by a transverse rail, which connects the front edges of the sides and upon which the frame 28 rests at its forward portion. These IOO fingers are so positioned that when the casin g is closed they will lie on opposite sides of the upper edge of the front of the easing, and being of spring metal will clamp the latter to hold the parts in their proper correlative positions. As shown in the drawings, one end 27 of the casing is unbroken and rests against the base when the casing is closed, while the end 26 is cut away, so that it will take over the record-rotating mechanism.

In the application of the casing to the graphophone the casing is opened to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and is slipped with the base thereof under the record and with the front passing between the record and the feed-screw, so that the screw will lie above the curvature of the front of the casing. When the casing has been pushed sufficiently far, Ithe back, with the sides and top, is moved on its hinges so that they will assume the positions shown in Figs. 2 and l, at which time the record is entirely inclosed. Before swinging up the back, however, the sound-tube of the reproducer is passed outwardly through the opening 23 and is engaged with its supportingbracket and'with the stylus in engagement with the record. If the mechanism be then operated, the reproducer will move longitudinally of the record in the usual manner and will carry the mica slide with it, 4the slide acting to keep the front of the casing closed at all times, so that exterior vibrations are excluded from the casing, and at the same time the vibrations within the casing are retained and are brought to act directly upon the diaphragm, with the result that the sounds which emanate from the machine are not only clearer and free from confusing noises, but are much louder.

In practice mica strips or slides of, different lengths may be used, and thus by using a strip which only partly closes the slot in the front of the casing some of the energy of vibration may be allowed to escape, so that the sounds given out through the sound-tube will not be so loud as when the casing is entirely closed. Furthermore, it will be understood that while in the present instance I have used tin and mica in the construction of the casing other suitable materials may be used, and any proportions maybe observed in the manufacture of the casing to adapt it to special conditions. Furthermore, the slot through which the sound-tube operates may be differently positioned to correspond to the different arrangements of the tubes on various machines. Likewise 'various other modications may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Vhat is claimed isl. A graphophone having a casing inclosin g the record and reproducer and excluding the feeding mechanism of the machine.

2. A casing for graphophonesformed to inclose the record and reproducer and exclude the feeding mechanism of the machine.

3. A graphophone having a casing inclosing the record and reproducer and excluding the feeding mechanism, said casinglying with a wall thereof between the record and the feed-screw.

4. A casing for graphophones adapted to inclose the record and reproducer and to lie with a wall thereof between the record and the feed mechanism, said wall having a slot to receive the sound-tube of the reproducer and permit feeding of the reproducer.

5. A casing for graphophones adapted to inclose the record and reproducer and to lie with a wall thereof between the record and the feeding mechanism, said wall having a slot to receive the sound-tube of the repro ducer and permit feeding of the reproducer, and a slide movably connected with the casing at the edges of the slot and adapted for engagement with the sound-tube for movement therewith.

6. A casing for graphophones adapted to inclose the record and reproducer and to lie with a wall thereof between the record and the feeding mechanism, said wall having a slot and guideway at the edges of the slot, and a slide engaged with the guideway for covering the slot, said slide having an opening to receive and fit the sound-tube.

f In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. SI-IIELDS. 

